The Good News of Salvation in Jesus Christ

Studies in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans

Lesson 29 : The Renewed Christian Mind re: Government, love and our daily walk (13:1–14)

PAUL’S “ALIEN BODY” – SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNMENT WAS AN ACCEPTED EARLY TEACHING – THE CHRISTIAN AND SECULAR RULERS (13:1-7) – COMMAND: “SUBMIT” TO AUTHORITIES – REASON #1 FOR SUBMISSION: RULERS ARE APPOINTED BY GOD – CONSEQUENCE OF RESISTING AUTHORITIES: GOD’S JUDGMENT – RESISTS THE AUTHORITY – BRING JUDGMENT (DAMNATION, KJV) – REASON #2 FOR SUBMISSION: RULERS ARE GOD’S SERVANTS TO REWARD THE GOOD / PUNISH THE EVIL – GOVERNING OFFICIALS ARE GOD’S SERVANTS (“DEACONS”) – GOVERNING OFFICIALS WILL PRAISE THOSE WHO DO GOOD – GOVERNING OFFICIALS WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO DO EVIL – BEAR THE SWORD – REITERATION OF THE GENERAL COMMAND – PAUL APPEALS TO PRACTICE: PAYING TAXES SHOWS SUBMISSION – GOVERNING OFFICIALS ARE GOD’S SERVANTS (“TEMPLE SERVANTS”) – DIRECT COMMAND: PAY TAXES AND SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITIES – HOW ARE WE TO UNDERSTAND PAUL’S TEACHING CONCERNING OUR DUTIES TO GOVERNMENT? – LOVE AND THE LAW (13:8-10) – OWE NO MAN ANYTHING – IS PAUL TELLING CHRISTIANS TO LOVE ONLY OTHER CHRISTIANS? – LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW – LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF THE DAY(13:11-14) – OUR SALVATION IS NOW NEARER – THE “DAY OF THE LORD” – FIRST PAIR OF IMPERATIVES: “PUT OFF … PUT ON” – SECOND PAIR OF IMPERATIVES: “WALK AS IN THE DAY” – RIOTING, ORGIES, REVELLING, CAROUSING, DRUNKENNESS, DRINKING BOUTS, CHAMBERING, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, SEXUAL EXCESSES, WANTONNESS, DEBAUCHERY, LASCIVIOUSNESS, LICENTIOUSNESS, STRIFE, DISSENSION, ENVYING, JEALOUSY, EMULATION – THIRD PAIR OF IMPERATIVES: “PUT ON CHRIST … MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH”